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Seth Griffith Knows What It Takes

by
Staff Writer
/ Boston Bruins

BostonBruins.com - Bruins prospect forward Seth Griffith knows hard it is to win and win consistently. However, being a key member of a team that won twenty five games and came close to winning the Memorial Cup in the Ontario Hockey League has given Griffith a taste of what it takes to win and that will certainly help in his development as a player.

Griffith was taken in the fifth round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. This past year the Wallaceburg, Ontario native was tied for second on the London Knights in goals (33) and tied for first in assists (48) in 54 games played. His team won the OHL Championship (J. Ross Robertson Cup) against fellow prospect Anthony Camara’s Barrie Colts and went two and three in the Memorial Cup Tournament, which features teams from across the Canadian junior leagues.

Although his team fell short, Griffith stepped it up in the playoffs leading his team in goals (3) and assists (3) and registered at least one point in the five Memorial Cup games he played. For the whole playoffs, including the OHL playoffs, Griffith registered 9 goals and 16 assists for 25 points in only 21 games.

Reflecting on this experience, Griffith said, “Yeah it was great. I think the best organization in the OHL and maybe the CHL just from what I’ve heard and what I’ve been around so far. A lot of great coaches and that’s just one small step in why we went on a twenty five game winning streak. We were one win away from a CHL record, an Ontario Hockey League record so we just fell short.”

“Our main goal in the end was to win another OHL championship and we did that. I guess we just fell short of getting the Memorial Cup but it was a great experience for me again too.”

Now in his second development camp, Griffith is looking forward to taking the next step in his development. However, although he has found out how to score consistently and step up big for his team in juniors, Griffith knows that as you move up the competition only increases.

“I think me and my trainers back home we were just working on still getting faster,” said Griffith about what he needs to improve on. “My skating’s come a long way since my first year of juniors. I’m still improving on that and just overall strength. Playing against men here so it’s a lot different than playing in juniors so we just got to work on overall strength and stability and I’ll be fine.”

Like so many forwards in the Bruins development camp, Griffith models his game after Patrice Bergeron.

“On Boston, Patrice Bergeron,” said Griffith smiling. “He plays an all-around game. He’s out there in all situations power play, penalty kill he’s out there, for a crucial draw or something like that. He’s definitely one guy that I look after to play an all-around game.”

What is the next step for Griffith? Having had a successful year in juniors, he is hoping to take the next step into the professional leagues like Anthony Camara may make in the Fall.

Griffith said, “Yeah I definitely want to play for the Providence Bruins. That’s what I’ve been looking for all year. At the same time, hopefully I can get a couple games in with the Bruins.

“You look at what Spooner and Krug did and stuff like that, that’s what I’m going to try and do for next year and hopefully I will play at that.”

Although Griffith appears ready to make the jump to tougher competition, Providence Bruins Head Coach Bruce Cassidy stressed patience for all of the prospects saying, “He’s got to find his own pace and hopefully it’s quick for everyone’s benefit, but it doesn’t always work that way. We know that so you take your time and they go at their own pace.”

“We try to accelerate that, obviously, but you see it at every level—sorry on every team different guys develop at different stages and we just want to make sure we do our best to make him a player that the Boston Bruins can use at some point.”

Wherever he plays in the fall, Griffith has the potential to step up and play a huge role when it matters most. And the Bruins can definitely use a player like that.